Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card review: Simple rewards with no annual fee
Editors’ Take: This card offers simple rewards with no annual fee. That means little friction for travelers, even if other cards offer more value.
Image: hands-thumbs-upGreat for travel rewards with no annual fee
Image: cashAnnual fee: $0
The average credit score for members who have matched with this card or similar cards is 698
The average credit limit for members who have matched with this card or similar cards is $9,714
Explore more about this card:
Here’s the average credit limit of members who matched their Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card or similar cards.
% of members by credit limit range
The average credit limit for members who have matched with this card or similar cards is $9,714, with $10,000 being the most common.
Here’s the average credit score of members who matched their Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card or similar cards.
% of members by credit score range
The average credit score for members who have matched with this card or similar cards is 698, with 810 being the most common. Note this is just one of the deciding factors when it comes to getting approved.
This content is curated by Intuit Credit Karma’s Editorial team using data from members who were approved for this card or similar cards, or who self-matched this card or similar cards. Intuit Credit Karma receives compensation from third-party advertisers, but that doesn’t affect our editors’ opinions. Our third-party advertisers don’t review, approve or endorse this content. Information about financial products not offered on Credit Karma is collected independently. Our content is accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted.
Member stats
Updated daily
Image: low-utilization30.7%
Average credit utilization (or what percent of the card’s credit limit is being used) of members who matched with this card or similar cards.
Image: meetup45 years
Average age of members who matched this card or similar cards.
Image: cash-give-1$96,988
Average annual income of members who matched this card or similar cards. Note: Income may be estimated for some members by Credit Karma and may differ from members’ actual incomes.
Pros and cons
Image: yesIntro APR on purchases and balance transfers
Image: yesFlat earnings rate on everyday purchases makes for straightforward redemptions
Image: yesSeveral ways to redeem points
Image: ConNo major travel perks
Image: ConNo bonus categories to help you earn higher rewards
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card review
Updated March 19, 2025
This date may not reflect recent changes in individual terms.
Written by: David Heiling
Is the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card worth it?
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is worth considering if you want a travel credit card but don’t want to worry about earning and redeeming enough points to cover the cost of an annual fee.
It’s also good for people who prefer the simplicity of a straightforward rewards program since it offers a flat rewards rate on everyday purchases and additional points on travel purchases made through the Bank of America Travel Center.
Bank of America Bank Preferred Rewards® members can get even more value from their purchases.
But if you don’t mind paying an annual fee, you can get access to more travel perks and valuable rewards with other low-fee travel cards.
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card at a glance
- Annual fee: $0
- Sign-up bonus: 25,000 bonus points if you make at least $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days from account opening
- Welcome bonus value: $250
- Standout benefit: Intro 0% APR offer
- Standout rewards rate: 1.5 points for every $1 spent on most purchases
- Foreign transaction fee: None
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card best perks and features
Straightforward rewards rate with potential for lucrative rewards
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card offers 1.5 points for every $1 spent on purchases. You’ll also earn 25,000 bonus points if you make at least $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days from account opening.
To earn more rewards, you can book your travel through the Bank of America Travel Center. You’ll earn three points for every $1 you spend — 1.5 base points plus 1.5 bonus points. And there’s no limit to the number of bonus points you can earn.
If you primarily bank with Bank of America and regularly spend on travel, there’s potential to earn rewards more quickly. Qualified Preferred Rewards clients can earn between 25% and 75% more points on every purchase, giving them between 1.87 and 2.62 points for each $1 spent.
Flexible redemption options
With the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card, you can redeem your points for a statement credit to pay for travel-related purchases including flights, hotels and rental cars.
You can also use your points to get credit for other attractions like cocktail lounges, campgrounds, boat rentals, art galleries, amusement parks, aquariums and zoos.
Plus, you can redeem your points (for the same value) for dining purchases, including restaurants and takeout orders.
Keep in mind that your points won’t expire as long as your card account remains open with active charging privileges.
Introductory APR could help you transfer a balance
As a new cardholder, you’ll get an introductory 0% APR for 15 Billing Cycles for purchases as well as for balance transfers made in the first 60 days from account opening.
After the intro period ends, the variable APR for both purchases and balance transfers ranges from 18.24% - 28.24%. The fee on balance transfers is 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%.
This intro APR offer can be useful if you need to make a large purchase or finance a trip and pay it off over time.
What are the drawbacks of the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card?
No major travel perks
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card lacks major travel perks that can be found with other travel credit cards. If you’re looking for complimentary lounge access, travel insurance or other premium travel benefits, this card won’t meet your needs.
High threshold to qualify for rewards bonus
If you enroll in the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program, you can earn a 25% to 75% rewards bonus with every purchase using your Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card.
But to qualify, you need an active, eligible Bank of America checking account and a three-month average combined balance of $20,000 or more in qualifying Bank of America bank deposit accounts and/or Merrill investment accounts.
That’s a pretty high threshold that might not be an option for many potential cardholders.
How to redeem points for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
If you redeem the points you earn with the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for travel or dining, they’re worth 1 cent apiece. Note that there’s a minimum redemption amount of 2,500 points (for a $25 statement credit).
You can also redeem your rewards for cash back and gift cards, but we don’t recommend it — 2,500 points will get you only $15 in cash back. Gift card redemption values can vary in value, but they start at 3,125 points.
To earn points, make sure to use your card to book your trip or pay at a restaurant, and then redeem your points to get a statement credit.
It’s also good to keep in mind that your purchases are eligible to be covered by statement credits for up to 12 months after the transaction posts to your account — so you don’t want to wait too long to redeem your points for eligible purchases.
Other cards to consider
- Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card: For a relatively low annual fee, this card has straightforward perks and above-average rewards.
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: If you want to maximize the flexibility and value of your rewards, this card could be a solid choice.
- Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card - Miles Boost: This card is another good option for travelers who value a simple rewards program but don’t want to pay an annual fee.
Credit Karma’s methodology
Credit Karma uses qualitative and quantitative measures to review travel and premium credit cards. Our goal is to help you understand a card’s most useful features — and where it may fall short compared to other options.
We take into account factors such as unique rewards and benefits, ease of redeeming rewards, fees and rates, transfer partners, lounge access and rewards rates.
Credit Karma editors have also built some proprietary metrics to measure the value of rewards credit cards.
Our point valuations estimate how much rewards programs are worth. We look at both the value you could get by redeeming your points directly through a credit card issuer, as well as the value you could get by transferring your points and miles to an airline or hotel rewards program.
Instead of just telling you how many miles you could earn, the editors’ estimated bonus value multiplies the sign-up bonus by the reward program’s point valuations to tell you how much we believe they’re worth.
Our goal is that these metrics will help you decide whether the card’s rewards and benefits are worth it for you.
FAQs about Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
The value of 25,000 Bank of America Travel Rewards points is $250 if you have a Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card and redeem for statement credits to cover travel purchases made on your card. The points are worth less if you redeem for cash back or gift cards.
We’ve found that Credit Karma members who report having the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card or similar cards tend to have good or excellent credit scores.
Your credit scores are just one of many factors that Bank of America may look at when determining your eligibility.
You’ll get a straightforward 1.5 points for every $1 spent on purchases, plus 25,000 bonus points when you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days from opening your account. These are solid rewards from a card with no annual fee.
Member reviews
Most helpful positive review
January 29, 2024
I applied for the card
— Credit Karma Member
I applied for the card they pulled from my Experian report not sure of my score I think it was like 707 they gave me 12k
Most helpful negative review
July 23, 2023
Bank of America: A Verification Farce
— Credit Karma Member
I applied for the card primarily because of the points, and was subsequently approved. However, shortly after approval, I was notified of a potential fraud issue related to my account. It took over five attempts to successfully reach customer service to clarify the issue. Once connected, I was informed that there was no fraudulent activity on my account, but I was required to complete a verification process. I cooperated fully, providing each representative with the requested information. Despite going through every conceivable identity verification process, the issue remained unresolved. I was then informed that additional paperwork, required for another form of identity verification, would be sent to me. Unfortunately, this paperwork never arrived. Upon finally connecting with a supervisor, I was told that the problem was a system error that couldn't be rectified. Oddly enough, I was advised to drive to a local branch to verify my identity, despite having already answered all verification questions multiple times through phone calls and text verification. The nearest Bank of America branch, however, is a staggering 2.5 hours away. It seemed unreasonable to make such a long trip merely to confirm what I had already validated numerous times via different channels. If the problem lies within the system, it should be addressed and rectified by the company, rather than causing the customer undue stress by suggesting potential fraud. This issue should have been resolved with the first phone call and SMS verification. Adding to the irony of the situation, I actually already have a prior credit card with the bank, which I haven't used in a few years. Despite having an established relationship with the bank, I found myself navigating a convoluted and frustrating process, a stark contrast to the straightforward services one would expect from a banking institution. This experience has provided a humorous, albeit frustrating, twist in my ongoing interactions with the bank. I even offered to participate in a video call or have a representative visit my home for verification purposes. However, this was to no avail and now my credit report indicates that the account has been closed. The entire situation is perplexing and, frankly, quite absurd.
*Approval Odds are not a guarantee of approval. Credit Karma determines Approval Odds by comparing your credit profile to other Credit Karma members who were approved for the card shown, or whether you meet certain criteria determined by the lender. Of course, there’s no such thing as a sure thing, but knowing your Approval Odds may help you narrow down your choices. For example, you may not be approved because you don’t meet the lender’s “ability to pay standard” after they verify your income and employment; or, you already have the maximum number of accounts with that specific lender.